Child actor starred in '70s sitcom

Saturday

May 29, 2010 at 12:01 AMMay 29, 2010 at 10:11 AM

PROVO, Utah - Gary Coleman, the child star of the successful 1970s sitcom Diff'rent Strokes whose later career was marred by medical and legal problems, has died after falling and suffering from a brain hemorrhage.

PROVO, Utah - Gary Coleman, the child star of the successful 1970s sitcom Diff'rent Strokes whose later career was marred by medical and legal problems, has died after falling and suffering from a brain hemorrhage.

He was 42.

The fall occurred Wednesday at his home, 55 miles south of Salt Lake City.

A statement from the family said he remained conscious and lucid until midday Thursday, when his condition worsened and he slipped into unconsciousness.

Coleman was then placed on life support, which was terminated, according to a Utah Valley Regional Medical Center spokeswoman, before he died at 12:05p.m. yesterday.

With his sparkling eyes and perfect comic timing, the actor became a star playing Arnold Jackson when Diff'rent Strokes made its debut in 1978.

His popularity faded when the show ended after six seasons on NBC and two on ABC.

Coleman suffered continuing ill health from the kidney disease that stunted his growth and had a host of legal problems in recent years.

With his role on Diff'rent Strokes, he became an immediate star, and his skeptical "Whatchu talkin' 'bout?" - usually aimed at his brother, Willis - became a catchphrase.

The child stars of the series faced troubles later in life. Dana Plato, who played Kimberly, took her life in 1999. Todd Bridges, who played Willis, was tried and acquitted of attempted murder.

Coleman had financial and legal problems in addition to health issues from the kidney disease that required dialysis and at least two transplants. As an adult, he reached only 4 feet 8 inches.

He continued to get credits for TV guest shots and other minor roles through the years.

At the time of the race, Coleman told The New York Times: "I want to escape that legacy of Arnold Jackson. I'm someone more. It would be nice if the world thought of me as something more."

But legal disputes dogged him. In 1989, his mother tried to gain control of his $6million fortune.

In a 1993 interview, he said he had twice tried to kill himself by overdosing on pills.

He moved to Utah in 2005, and, according to a recent tally, officers had been called to assist or intervene with him more than 20 times through the years. Some of the disputes involved his wife, Shannon Price.

In 2008, a dust-up with a fan at a Utah bowling alley led Coleman to plead no contest to disorderly conduct.